Natual Balance Pet Foods sponsored a contest with Dog Fancy magazine to honor the United States' top working dogs, in honor of the 10th anniversary of the September 11 tragedy.
Natural Balance's Working Canine Hero of the Year contest named three winning dogs: Air Force dog Lucky; a search-and-rescue dog named Hunter; and Renzo, a K9 with the Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, police department.
Each of the winners will receive US$3,500 from Natural Balance on September 11, at a National Disaster Search Dog Foundation ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of the first national search dog training center in Santa Paula, California, USA.